HAUTE MOVES

Japanese winter

Grand Seiko’s latest spring drive takes inspiration from cascading snow.

BY MARTIN GREEN

GRAND SEIKO FINDS A LOT OF INSPIRATION IN NATURE around its Shinshu Watch Studio in Japan, the place where all Spring Drive models come to life. For its latest model, the brand captured the spirit of Shizuri-yuki. This is the natural phenomenon when freshly fallen snow cascades down from tree branches, creating a spectacular play of light. As we have grown accustomed to with Grand Seiko, it translated this beauty in the most sophisticated way in a timepiece, in which design and craftsmanship go hand in hand.

The case measures 38.5mm in diameter and is crafted from pink gold. Thanks to its overall height of just 10.2mm, it has a slim profile that is accentuated by a string of brilliant-cut diamonds. They are placed to follow the case’s design, with the precious stones gradually decreasing in size accordingly. This is the first reference to the snow-topped landscape around the Shinshu Watch Studio, with the second being the dial. Here the brand opted for a bright white color but gave it a unique texture that resembles freshly fallen snow in which the wind has created a distinct yet subtle pattern. It gives the watch a great sense of refinement.

Refinement is also what we find inside the case, where through a sapphire crystal insert in the rose gold caseback, caliber 9R31 is visible. This movement combines great looks with outstanding performance. Thanks to the unique Spring Drive technology, it is accurate to 15 seconds per month while offering a power reserve of a generous 72 hours. The finish of the movement is, in true Grand Seiko tradition, outstanding. The main plate has a subtle brushed finish against which the red rubies and blued screws stand out. An elegant power reserve indicator is also placed on the back of the watch, a welcome and helpful feature for a manualwind watch like this. To ensure exclusivity, this latest Grand Seiko creation is limited to 60 pieces.

PEDAL TO the metal

The Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Huracán is the embodiment of high performance.

BY MARTIN GREEN

ROGER DUBUIS IS LAUNCHING A NEW EXCALIBUR SPIDER in collaboration with Lamborghini. The watch is once again an exemplary mix of the DNA of both brands, combining cutting-edge design with innovative materials. This latest addition to the Excalibur Spider Huracán collection gives center stage to Ceramic Composite Fiber (CCF). This highperformance material is normally used in the aerospace industry, in particular for rockets, yet after extensive research and development, Roger Dubuis made it suitable for use in watchmaking.

One of the things that makes this material so extraordinary is that it is even 20 percent lighter than carbon. This fits perfectly in Roger Dubuis’s strategy to create watches that are like racing machines for the wrist. The CCF has a white color with a subtle yet distinct marble effect. The brand used it not only to craft the case but also as part of the movement. This makes the watch very good-looking, with an icy-cool appearance.

Roger Dubuis will make 88 pieces of this 45mm large Excalibur Spider Huracán powered by caliber RD630. This movement was developed with Lamborghini and has a few extraordinary features. The balance wheel, placed at 12 o’clock, has been placed at a 12-degree angle for increased precision. Opposite, we find the date function between the two mainspring barrels. This gives the Excalibur Spider Huracán a power reserve of 60 hours. The back of the watch is equally stunning, as there the oscillating weight is shaped like the rim of a Lamborghini Huracán.

The Excalibur Spider Huracán also continues the recently started tradition at Roger Dubuis to be dazzling by night. For this, the brand not only applied Super-LumiNova on the hands and hour markers but also used it to decorate part of the bridges, the bezel, and even the strap. The unique capabilities of this Roger Dubuis shine, even at night.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LAMBORGHINI

MOVESHaute AUTO + YACHT

The Final Aventador

Lamborghini’s flagship sees the last iconic release before going completely electric.

BY NIKITA VIVEK PAWAR

ITALIAN MANUFACTURER LAMBORGHINI HAS ANNOUNCED THAT it is going electric. But first comes the luxury carmaker’s final Aventador, celebrating the iconic V12 super sports car and combustion engine. Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae is available in two variants: coupe and roadster.

After a glorious 10-year run, the V12 engine shines for one last time. “The Aventador LP 780-4 denotes the final, purest, timeless naturally aspirated production V12 Lamborghini,” says Stephan Winkelmann, president and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. “It delivers the essential 12-cylinder experience in terms of inimitable design, engineering solutions and the most emotive driving experience and is the definitive Aventador, concluding an extraordinary era. It is the last of its kind: it delivers the maximum power and conclusive performance expected from Lamborghini’s current V12 engine, combined with our inimitable flagship’s design DNA. The Aventador was destined to become a classic from launch, and the Aventador LP 780-4 is the most beautiful expression of timeless design and technical solutions in a final edition: Ultimae.”

The 12-cylinder, 6.5-liter Longitudinale Posteriore (LP) will arrive in 2023. The engine delivers 780 CV: 40 CV more than the Aventador S, and 10 CV over the SVJ to its permanent four-wheel drive. It is the grand finale of the traditional V12 combustion engine and the ultimate Aventador in every sense. The Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 2.8 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 8.7 and a top speed of 355 km/h (coupe).

The active aero system’s rear wing moves into three positions — closed, maximum performance and maximum handling. The transmission is via Lamborghini’s lightweight Independent Shifting Rod (ISR) 7-speed shifting system, providing robotized gearshifts in up to 50 milliseconds. The Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae’s drive modes allow the pilot to select not only STRADA, SPORT and CORSA dynamic options, but in EGO mode choose parameters for the optimal setup of the Lamborghini active suspension (LMS), traction controls (engine, gearbox and four-wheel drive) and steering.

The Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae celebrates the Lamborghini Aventador’s complex yet elegant lines and surfaces: the culmination of the company’s aspirated-V12 design legacy. Paying homage to the benchmark performance of the SVJ and the ageless super sports elegance of the S model, it takes the best components of both to create a perfect balance between performance and dynamism with enduring sophistication.

The Aventador is limited to only 350 coupes and 250 roadsters in numbered editions, offering a refined yet dynamic, elegant yet distinctive representation of the last Aventador. Its silhouette, clean and unfettered, is as recognizable and timeless an outline as other V12 Lamborghini classics, such as Countach, Diablo and Murciélago. Offered as standard are 18 colors, with an unprecedented range of options, and more than 300 colors are available through Lamborghini Ad Personam, allowing owners to create their unique piece of Lamborghini V12 motoring history.

The Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae coupe is launched in a two-tone gray-ongray configuration, with lines and details such as the front splitter’s outline and “teeth” picked out in matte red Rosso Mimir, with the accent line continuing along with the car with matching accents on the rear fins of the visible carbonfiber rear diffuser: elite performance and design purity in perfect harmony. The roof is also offered in visible carbon fiber on the Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae roadster. Silver Dianthus 20” and 21” forged alloys come as standard together with further 20” and 21” options in Dianthus, Leiron and Nireo in bronze, black and titanium, fitted with Pirelli PZero Corsa tires.

The matte Grigio Acheso and Grigio Teca exterior colors’ elegant yet sporty two-tone is echoed in the interior: black leather and Alcantara base materials feature stitching and trim in a gray complementary to the exterior, with Y seat inserts in black Alcantara. The LP 780-4’s comfort seat is taken from the Aventador S, with the Ultimae name embroidered into the seat bolster, while the A-pillar driver dashboard area carries the 001 of 350/250 reference to the limited edition. The Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae roadster is launched in Blu Tawaret and Blu Nethuns with high-gloss black carbon-fiber roof panels.

The next generation of Lamborghini’s V12 engine will offer a naturally aspirated engine with an augmented electric hybrid system. This extraordinary combination will be the best of both worlds.

Inspired by Nature

The BMW X5 Black Vermilion edition features a high level of comfort and luxury, supreme performance and pronounced dynamic handling capabilities.

BY NIKITA VIVEK PAWAR

THE EXCLUSIVE BMW X5 BLACK VERMILION EDITION xDrive40i combines the already high level of performance, comfort and luxury found in every Spartanburg, South Carolina-built X5 sports activity vehicle with an unmistakably striking and aggressive exterior design, as well as editionexclusive equipment and details.

The central focus is the exclusive interplay between black and red. The high-gloss black kidney grille with red vertical bars creates a stark contrast to the BMW Individual Frozen Black Metallic paint finish. Darkened Individual Shadowline Headlights with the signature blue X design of the BMW Laserlights complete the distinctive look of the front end.

On the exterior, the M Sport Package emphasizes the dynamic character of the BMW X5 Black Vermilion edition. It comprises specific front and rear aprons. as well as the M high-gloss Shadow Line with extended options. Behind the Orbit Grey matte, 22-inch, double-spoke 742 M light-alloy wheels with mixed tires designed exclusively for this edition, red high-gloss M Sport brake callipers stand out as a striking visual highlight.

The interior features the M Alcantara Anthracite roof liner that provides for an exceptionally sophisticated ambience. The glass application Crafted Clarity on the iDrive Controller, the automatic gear selector and start/stop button, and the BMW Individual precious wood interior trim Fineline Black with aluminum inlays provide additional elegant accents. The BMW Individual full leather trim in Merino Black is additionally enhanced by edition-specific red contrast stitching for the seats. Sun-protective glass with more deeply tinted rear windows beyond the B-pillar enhances passenger privacy while blending harmoniously with the sporty and dynamic exterior design.

The 2022 BMW X5 Black Vermilion Edition is available to order now, starting at $83,295, which is $20,600 more than the xDrive40i model on which it’s based and only $500 cheaper than the 523-hp twin-turbo V-8–powered X5 M50i model.

Mulliner’s First Electrified Bentley

The ultimate in four-door luxury grand touring was revealed at Monterey Car Week in California.

BY NIKITA VIVEK PAWAR

BENTLEY MULLINER HAS INTRODUCED THE ULTIMATE FOUR-DOOR luxury grand touring: the first electrified Bentley. Named Flying Spur Mulliner, the new GT can enjoy a technically advanced V6 hybrid powertrain, the emotional V8 or endless waves of torque from the W12. Revealed at California’s prestigious Monterey Car Week, the elegantly appointed sedan sits at the pinnacle of the Flying Spur family, combining the very finest in modern craftsmanship and breathtaking luxury.

The most luxurious Flying Spur to date has been created and developed by Bentley Mulliner and designed, engineered and handcrafted in Great Britain. Taking its place as the flagship of the Bentley range, it will appeal to customers who desire an even greater focus on elegant details. Beautifully appointed detailing includes exclusive 22-inch wheels in a gray painted and polished finish with self-levelling wheel caps that remain upright as the wheels rotate, a “double diamond” front grille and chrome front lower grille that are matched by bespoke Mulliner-branded wing vents, and Satin Silver painted mirror caps. The iconic Bentley Flying B is electronically deployed and illuminated, along with jewel caps for fuel and oil.

An example of one of the curated interiors — Ascot — is a combination of Imperial Blue leather on the instrument panel, door trim and headlining and a light tan leather called Camel emphasizing the style of the seats. White micropiping, embroidery and accent lines add a third color. Other options, such as Flare and Sirius, add bolder combinations, including Hotspur and Beluga or Linen and Brunel, both with a silver accent. The Mulliner Driving Specification is fitted as standard, bringing the “diamond-in-diamond” quilting to the seats and threedimensional leather to the doors. The interior quilting involves an embroidery process that took 18 months to develop. Each diamond contains precisely 712 individual stitches — each one aligned to the exact center of the diamond it creates

The classic Bentley theme continues in the LED driver’s instrument panel, with stylish new and exclusive Mulliner graphics. The now-famous Bentley Rotating Display, sports pedals, heated duo-tone 3-spoke steering wheel and panoramic sunroof add to the luxurious ambience. Unique electrically operated picnic tables are mounted to the rear of the front seats and can be deployed with a single button press. The veneered tables feature a unique overlay with lower and self level to reveal a leather-trimmed surface with a recess for a pen or stylus.

Flying Spur Mulliner customers receive leather-bound keys in a handcrafted presentation box that matches the three-color cabin of their car. The two keys themselves are provided in similarly color-matched cases with contrast stitching.

The Flying Spur Mulliner is available with Bentley’s V8 and W12 powertrains and the new V6 hybrid. When equipped with Bentley’s 6.0-liter, twinturbocharged W12, the car accelerates from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds and can reach a top speed of 207 mph (333 km/h). The new generation 4.0-liter, twinturbocharged V8 delivers a top speed of 198 mph (318 km/h) and 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds. The new V6 hybrid accelerates from 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.3 seconds), with a top speed of 177 mph (285 km/h).

Tailored Luxury

The New Range Rover SVAutobiography Ultimate editions from SV Bespoke are the pinnacle of the Land Rover family.

BY NIKITA VIVEK PAWAR

EARLIER THIS YEAR, LAND ROVER SPECIAL VEHICLE OPERATIONS launched a pair of exclusive new Range Rover special editions created by its SV Bespoke personalization team. The Range Rover SVAutobiography Ultimate editions represent the pinnacle of Land Rover’s luxury SUV family, elevating SVAutobiography and SVAutobiography Dynamic models even higher with a suite of complementary hand-finished SV Bespoke features. Curated by the SV Bespoke commissioning experts at the Special Vehicle Operations Technical Center in the U.K., the Ultimate editions showcase the full range of personalization options applied to the timeless Range Rover design.

“Range Rover has defined the luxury SUV segment for more than half a century, with our SVAutobiography models offering customers a world-class travel experience — whether driving or being driven,” said Mark Turner, commercial director of Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations. “These new Ultimate editions elevate that refinement and sophistication even further.”

The Ultimate edition has satin-finished Orchard Green paintwork complemented by a Narvik Black roof and copper detailing. The attention to detail extends to the Gloss Black knurled infill and copper-edged metal Range Rover badging on the bonnet and tailgate. This also includes a copper-plated and black enamel SV roundel on the B-pillar, SV roundels embroidered on all four headrests, and illuminated Ultimate-edition treadplates. The finishing touch is a “SV Bespoke Ultimate edition” commissioning plaque on the center console, complete with copper-finished SV roundel.

The 22-inch alloy wheels feature a five-split-spoke design finished in Gloss Dark Grey with contrast Diamond Turned finish, while side vent, bonnet finisher, grille and front bumper accents are all finished in Graphite Atlas. Inside, a knurled finish for the rotary shift controller, starter button and pedals plus anodized red paddle shifters underline the performance focus of the SVAutobiography Dynamic.

Priced at $250,000, each car will be hand-built by Land Rover’s SV Bespoke team at Special Vehicle Operations in England. The recommended Ultimate edition specification features Vintage Tan leather interior trim and Copper Weave Carbon Fiber finishers. Customers can also opt for leather upholstery from the Italian artisans at Poltrona Frau for a truly cosseting experience.

The flagship model is available with a choice of powertrains, including the 565PS Supercharged V8 petrol and highly efficient P400e plug-in hybrid, capable of up to 40km (25 miles) all-electric driving. Land Rover’s advanced Dynamic Response active roll control system also enhances composure. At the same time, the ride height is lowered by 8mm — delivering more engaging driving dynamics and a more purposeful stance.

The Ultimate edition can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in around 5.4 seconds, with a top speed of 155 mph. Originally launched at the Paris Motor Show in 2012, this Range Rover variant is still a raging success.

1000 Reasons to Fall in Love

Made entirely of carbon fiber, Ferretti Yachts’ 1000 is the largest vessel ever built by the Italian shipyard and features a versatile, majestic design.

BY NIKITA VIVEK PAWAR

CREATING A NEW FLAGSHIP IS AN AWE-INSPIRING PROJECT, made of talent and technology, the ability to innovate and craftsmanship. Ferretti Yachts has launched its most ambitious yacht yet — the Ferretti Yachts 1000. At its heart is the idea of unparalleled comfort and well-being in both outdoor and indoor areas, where quintessential “Made in Italy” taste prevails.

The Ferretti Yachts 1000 is the result of collaboration between the Italian shipyard’s Product Strategy Committee, led by Piero Ferrari; the Ferretti Group Engineering Department; architect Filippo Salvetti, for the exteriors; and Ideaeitalia, for the interior concept. Versatile and suited to all markets, Ferretti Yachts 1000 reshapes space and changes the whole approach to adapt to the owner’s various needs. The first Ferretti Yachts 1000 features classic styling, with a mood defined by soft, balanced colors and subtle contrasts. The other option is contemporary styling with fresh tones and bolder colors.

The suavely understated design, featuring clean lines and sophisticated materials, conveys a sense of refined luxury. The exterior styling reprises the design philosophy introduced with the latest models: sporty lines dominate a profile featuring new glass side panels aft and amidship. For the first time in the brand’s history, Ferretti Yachts 1000 uses carbon fiber extensively on various parts of the superstructure and hardtop. Adding to the contours of the rear door, on the walkways and the stairway up to the flybridge, and encasing the external helm station is teak wood — ensuring longevity and durability.

Ferretti Yachts 1000 redefines the stern concept with 40 square meters of livable space, on a par with a superyacht. It features a beach club in the true sense of the term, where direct access to the swim platform from the cockpit creates an outdoor wellness area in contact with the water: an open space for adventure and fun. A revolutionary concept makes it easy to leave the water when the swim platform is submerged by opening up three steps on either side of the platform as it is lowered, continuing the stairway down from the cockpit. This design, developed entirely by the Engineering Department, is a Ferretti Group patent.

The new yacht offers an innovative take on the distribution of onboard flows: two staircases provide access to the 55-square-meter flybridge and from there to the bow area, ensuring its total privacy. The cockpit also includes access to the side walkways on the main deck leading to the

salon and from there to the raised helm station and flybridge, making it easier for the owner, guests and crew to move around the yacht. The flybridge helm station has two electrically adjustable Poltrona Frau pilot seats and two copilot seats on the opposite side.

The space separating the salon from the night area on the lower deck is personalized with a curved smoked glass panel and a ribbed partition with an electric opening mechanism. When open, the partition reveals a bar counter and connects the dining area with the galley.

The interior design is elegant and modern while respecting the boatbuilding tradition imprinted in Ferretti Yachts’ DNA. The versatility of the interiors translates into a layout that leaves the owner ample choice to design their own onboard experience. Large full-height windows accentuate the feeling of contact with the water and let natural light flood in. At the same time, the freestanding furniture conveys a sense of lightness, and the contours of the geometrical detailing have a unique style. Walnut wood is used throughout in various ways: flamecolored and bold for the furniture, striped and softer for the walls, and ribbed for unique accents.

The Ferretti Yachts 1000 can host up to ten guests, with the lower deck housing four twin double cabins with ensuite bathrooms. The two forward cabins can have either two double beds or four single beds. The crew quarters are located in the bow and consist of a dinette with an extending table, and around it a spacious captain’s cabin with its bathroom and two double cabins, plus an additional bathroom, for five crew members. With an entrance from the bow, the owner’s suite welcomes you with custom-made furnishings. A day toilet precedes the suite and is entered through a door fitted with a functional retractable handle. The garage can accommodate a Williams Dieseljet 445 tender, a three-seater jet ski, and even two Seabobs and may also be reached through an independent entrance on the starboard side.

The first Ferretti Yachts 1000 unit is equipped with twin 2638 mhp MTU 16V 2000 M96L engines, driving the yacht to a top speed of 28 knots and a cruising speed of 24 knots (preliminary data). The standard version mounts a pair of 2217 mhp MTU 16V 2000 M86 engines, with a top speed of 24 knots and a cruising speed of 20 knots (preliminary data). The new flagship can also be fitted on request with gyroscopic stabilization combined with stabilizer fins to ensure maximum comfort and silent running both at anchor in the roadstead and cruising.

Retro Superyacht

With a nod to the past, the Benetti Motopanfilo 37M is inspired by the company’s iconic navettes of the 1960s.

BY NIKITA VIVEK PAWAR

BENETTI HAS LAUNCHED ITS STYLISH SUPERYACHT MOTOPANFILO 37M. The 36.8m (120’9”) yacht is named after the leisure yachts owned by the likes of Prince Rainier and David Bowie in their day; the desirability factor is synonymous with the stylish luxury they convey. The first unit of the Motopafilo 37M was introduced in a ceremony held in Viareggio.

The fiberglass and composite yacht was designed by Francesco Struglia in collaboration with Benetti Yachts. The lines of this yacht give a retro nod to Benetti’s original features, while her imaginative interior displays fresh creativity from Lazzarini Pickering Architetti. The superyacht incorporates high windows to let in abundant sunlight while creating numerous places to relax and rejuvenate.

Ensuring a degree of elegant nostalgia, the main focus is to emphasize the superb interior volume and flexible spaces. The highlight of the exteriors is the smooth 1960s clamshell silhouette of the excellent beach club area, which employs modern tech for access with an integrated stern swim platform/terrace. The wooden bulkheads are replaced by glass, and the unique staterooms hug the curves of the hull, clearly defined by the overall shape with no straight walls.

The Benetti 37M features a modern-style saloon and the owner’s suite on the main deck, while four comfortable guest cabins and three cabins for six crew members are located on the lower deck. Connecting the lobby and the central mast, a spiral staircase rises through two decks, accompanying guests to the sky lounge on the upper deck. The aft part of the upper deck is specially designed for convivial moments in the open air, with areas for relaxation, conversation and sunbathing. The captain’s cabin is adjacent to the wheelhouse, and on the exterior toward the bow, guests are welcomed by a hot tub and sunbeds.

The displacement hull is designed by P.L.A.N.A. (Pierluigi Ausonio Naval Architecture) and ensures smooth navigation and maximum comfort. The yacht is powered by a pair of M.A.N. V12s of 1029 kW (upgradable to 1213 kW) each, which guarantee a maximum speed of 16 or 18 knots depending on the engines chosen, with a range of 3,800 nautical miles at the 10-knot cruising speed.

Ocean Independence has announced the sale of hull No. 2. Ocean Independence sales broker Lukas Stratmann represented the buyer, with delivery anticipated for May 2022. Stratmann commented, “For me, the Benetti Motopanfilo 37M is the perfection of simplicity, bringing iconic elements of a classic ’60s heritage combined with decidedly 21st-century thinking.”

Yachting Marvel

The Gigayacht Galleon impresses at a staggering 160 meters in length and boasts eight decks, pools and a basketball court.

BY NIKITA VIVEK PAWAR

SURPASSING THE SUPERYACHTS SECTOR, AMERICAN YACHT designer Steve Kozloff’s Galleon takes gigayachts to a new level. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the American designer has outdone himself with his Goliath series. His latest superyacht is an expansive 160-meter gigayacht with eight decks and 20 private residences, which could also be turned in one piece by a singular owner.

At first glance, Galleon reinterprets the 16th-century Spanish cargo carrier; however, this iteration features a multideck facade and four towering masts, not too dissimilar to the original galleon boats.

Inspired by the sailing boats of the Spanish Armada, Galleon offers the best of the luxury and experiences one would wish for on land. Most sailing yachts are equipped with staterooms and elements for dining, entertaining and leisure; Galleon goes full out with over 350 facilities, including full-size courts for basketball, tennis and handball, a floating park, and much more. It is equipped with four full-beam garages built for six luxury speedboat tenders, four U-Boat Worx NEMO submarines, six rib tenders, port and starboard, 21 personal watercraft and more.

The gigayacht also features a sports center with six courts, a café, a pub and a restaurant, while the upper aft deck has a lounging area, an expansive luxury bar, and a 74’ x 32’ pool. One level below the bridge deck is a 44.5’ x 35’ indoor pool. Both pools include the Kozloff invention of an automated hardcover that becomes a gazebo when the pools are in use. When not in use, the hardcovers seal the pool, so there is no need to drain in rough conditions. The yacht also features a 4,500-sq-ft (450m2) fully enclosed hangar that can hold ten helicopters and an aircraft maintenance facility. On the upper forward decks are two lazy river pools connected by a waterslide. Described by Kozloff as a “sailing cruise ship,” the eight-decker yacht can host up to 200 guests with a crew of 150.

As for power, Kozloff envisions Galleon with five diesel-electric engines that would together deliver 10,000 hp. The gigayacht would also be equipped with four DynaRigs that give a total sail area of 105,220 square feet and supplement propulsion with wind power. With a top speed of 19 knots, Galleon could cover 10,000 nautical miles while travelling at the cruising speed of 10 knots. Kozloff also adds that Galleon could be hybrid or electric.